What Do Americans Really Want ?

Sometimes it is hard to figure out just what the American people really want?   Unfortunately, a new Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation/Harvard University poll contains some puzzling information and may well create as many questions as it answers.   The poll surveyed 2,054 adults between September 22nd and October 3rd, and has a margin of error of 2.5%.

I don't think there's any doubt that if asked whether they support a smaller federal government, a clear majority of Americans would probably say yes.   And a couple of the polls answers would tend to support that.   About 55% of respondents think the federal government is focused on the wrong things and another 52% believe the governments impact on their daily lives is mainly a negative one, while only 7% believe they get more value from the government than they pay in taxes (and 55% say they get less value).

Those beliefs would make someone think the majority of Americans would be in favor of drastic cuts to the federal government.   However, when they are asked about individual government programs, the poll shows that Americans think those programs are important and don't want to see cuts in them.   Consider the following figures:

ARE THE FOLLOWING PROGRAMS IMPORTANT OR IMPORTANT?

MEDICARE

Important....................96%

Not very important...............4%

SOCIAL SECURITY

Important....................95%

Not very important...............5%

DEFENSE SPENDING

Important....................90%

Not very important...............9%

FOOD STAMPS

Important....................82%

Not very important...............17%

FOREIGN AID

Important....................62%

Not very important...............36%

FEDERAL AID TO SCHOOLS

Important....................91%

Not very important...............9%

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS

Important....................91%

Not very important...............9%

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Important....................89%

Not very important...............10%

Those are all the programs that cost the government the most money.   It would be impossible to think of cutting the size of the federal government without also drastically cutting most or all of these programs, and yet a clear majority in each case doesn't think these programs should be cut.

It's no wonder that the Republicans, while preaching cutting government, can't name a single thing they would cut.   It's one thing to talk about cutting government in general, but quite another when it comes to cutting specific (and popular) programs.   Americans may say they want a smaller government, but they only want it in theory -- not reality.   

In fact, reality may not enter into people's view of the federal government very much.   About 50% of the people said they believed that the federal government budget could be balanced just by eliminating wasteful spending.   But where is that wasteful spending?   And could there possibly be trillions of dollars in wasteful spending?   Frankly, it is amazing that half of the population could believe that.   While there is undoubtably some wasteful spending, it is extremely unrealistic to believe it could even come near the federal deficit.

Another question also pointed out this schizophrenic nature of Americans.   About 77% of the people believe that the United States has the best system of government in the world.   But then when asked if the government is run for the big special interests or the benefit of all citizens, a full 65% said it was run for the big special interests.   How can those two statements be reconciled?   Are all other governments in the world even worse than a government run for big special interests?

I'm amazed.   Evidently we need a smaller government, but this must be accomplished without cutting programs.   And we have the best system in the world, even though it is run only for big special interests?   Where is reality?